Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s series African American Lives journeys deep into the African-American experience to reveal the triumphs and tragedies within the family histories of participants. Watch clips from the series at pbs.org. In conjunction with this series, KLRU’s Michael Emery will be blogging about his own genealogical experiences. Here is part three of his journey.

Yesterday I put my DNA in the mail! I have no idea how long the results will take. The actual collection procedure is about as strenuous as flossing one’s teeth. There are no obvious bodily liquids involved with the sampling. The mail-in package is sanitary and secure. And the expectation is mounting, yes!

Research genetic genealogy and you’ll find that there are two popular tests, and the biology of it tests my understanding to the limit. One of these evaluates genetic markers from the father of the father of the father et cetera. This Y-chromosome isn’t passed on by females, which means that women can’t be tested for it. And the other test looks at chromosomes that describe a subject’s maternal lineage, the mother of the mother of the mother et cetera. more →

KLRU’s Texas Monthly Talks will tape two episodes on Thursday, March 12.

Mary Ellen Mark
Thursday, March 12; Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Taping starts at noon.
For more than forty years, Mark has traveled extensively, documenting cultures from around the world and across the United States. Mark is in town to launch the Icons of Photography Lecture series, sponsored by the new Austin Center for Photography. More details on the Mary Ellen Mark taping and RSVP here

Billy Bob Thornton
Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Taping starts at 3 p.m.
The Arkansas-born Thornton worked an eclectic mix of jobs as a painter, sawmill worker, grocery store clerk and member of a ZZ Top tribute band before moving to Los Angeles in 1984 to make a career as an actor. More details on the Billy Bob Thornton taping and RSVP here

Technical issues prevented the broadcast of the As Time Goes By Special scheduled to air last Saturday. We are working to correct the technical problem and reschedule this program. Stay tuned for more details.